Yes bit strange isn't it jno - I am sure I have been to some in the past with a real baby.
But I have also been to one where "Mary" picked the doll up out of the manger, dropped it, said "ooops" and dragged it along the floor by it's hair to pick it up - we all fell about laughing!
I was wondering if they were short of delivery wards in the local hospital and having to use the stage instead, Ann...
I remember Michael Parkinson reminiscing about a nativity play he went to up north. Joseph came hom from work and Mary told him "The Baby Jesus has been a right little bugger today."